Lego Charcoal Drawing HS Art Lesson

My level 1 and 2 HS art class is working on drawing observation skills. This is a fun, but challenging assignment! They had to create a 5-6 block Lego sculpture with uneven edges. They drew in pencil first and then rendered with full shading with black & white charcoal pencils on toned paper.

Students will learn to draw straight lines swinging from the elbow or shoulder.

They will learn to draw lines, circles and ellipses by using fluid motion of swinging from the shoulder and elbow.

The will learn the observational drawing techniques of “Angles of Lines” and “Degrees of Curvature” and apply them to a drawing.

Learn how to judge angles of objects and the slants of the contour edges by using the sighting techniques.

Delivery:

Review drawing from the shoulder: When drawing a straight line, swing from the elbow or shoulder if making a large straight line, not from the wrist. Swinging from the wrist will make your stroke too short and your line will be choppy & crooked. It is okay to turn the paper to create an angled line-your paper doesn’t have to stay in one position! DEMO
a. Video:https://mydrawingtutorials.com/drawing-exercises-for-drawing-better-lines/
b. Activity: practice drawing straight lines, circles & ellipses from the shoulder

“Draw Light Until It’s Right”– remember this motto, it is better to draw lightly first, get the drawing right, then go darker with your lines.

Vocabulary: Meeting Edges and Contours
a. Contour: an edge of a shape or form as you perceive it.
b. Edge: in drawing, a place where two things meet. (For example, where the sky meets the ground or the positive shapes or forms meet negative space.)

Look at objects in terms of simple lines and shapes. Angled straight lines, curved lines, ellipses, and cylinders for this drawing.

Angles of Lines: Observing the line direction and angles of straight lines. Notice how the angles of the lines change based on the point of view. Judge angles of objects and the slants of the contour edges.
a. Find edges, judging types of lines & line directions-angles
b. Check horizontal & vertical alignments
c. 1 & 2 Point Perspective (1 Point Perspective Lesson)

Degrees of Curvature: observing how much a line curves. Observe how the curvature of a line changes with your point of view of an object. Notice how the cylinders on the Lego change as the point of view changes.

Proportions: Size relationships, comparing one part to another

Judging Proportions: Pay close attention to the size (height, width, depth) of the different size Legos. The height of the Legos will most likely be consistent, but will vary in width and depth depending on how many cylinders it has and if it is a single or double wide brick. Notice that ALL the cylinders will be the same width, but will vary in height and depth depending on your view point.

Draw guidelines to help you place the cylinders correctly.

Activity #1: Sketchbook Drawing: Legos

In your sketchbook, draw 4 contour line drawings of various size and shape Legos. Draw 2 from a front viewpoint and 2 from a corner view point.

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Create Art with ME – Michelle East

Hi! Welcome to Create Art with ME. My name is Michelle East and I have the privilege of wearing many hats: Wife, Mother, Artist, Art Teacher. The foundation of all these hats is my Faith in Christ. I teach 3rd grade art through Advanced High School Art at a private Christian School in Cedar Park, Texas. The projects on this site are successful art lessons that I have taught with my classes and I hope that you will be inspired to create art with your own children or students too! Enjoy the whole process of creating, do not just be focused on the end product! If you want to use these lessons on your site or curriculum, please link back to this blog!